Our People
Meet The Winchester
Foundation Board
The Winchester Foundation is a not-for-profit organisation dedicated to providing financial assistance to students living in regional and rural areas. Our mission is to empower country children through education. It is hoped that many of these recipients return to regional areas when qualified.
We cannot achieve these goals without the assistance of our dedicated team whom we take pleasure in introducing to you below.
From left – Cliff Flor, Richard Hughes, Hayley Jones, Judy Harris, John Smith, John Formosa
Our FOUNDER
The Late Beryl Neilsen OAM
Founder
Beryl Neilsen and her husband, John, lived at Winchester Downs in Moranbah. The Winchester Foundation was established, as Beryl wanted to give back to the rural communities they always loved.
Her motivation was the difficulty experienced by rural and regional families in accessing suitable primary, secondary and tertiary education for their children, simply due to their geographic location. Recognising that location should not be a barrier to a good education in Australia.
The Foundation assists with the financial resources these families need to board their children close to suitable educational facilities. The Winchester Foundation’s generous Winchester Scholarships alleviate the stress felt by these families and help their children receive the education they need to reach their unique potential.
Our Board Members
John Formosa
Chairman of the Winchester Foundation
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John has been involved with the Winchester Foundation since its establishment in 2011. With a long and successful legal career assisting families in both rural and regional Queensland, he has seen firsthand the effect that droughts and downturns have on rural families.
John is enthusiastic about every charitable endeavour undertaken by the Foundation. However, he is especially passionate about the Foundation’s continued involvement in the Whitsunday Voices Youth Literature Festival.
John is committed to the future of the Foundation.
Cliff Flor
Director, FCPA, CA, AICD
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Cliff practiced for many years as a Chartered Accountant gaining experience with various types of Business across Queensland. During that time, he held Directorships with a wide range of Companies and Foundations, Private and Public, some ongoing, in a diverse range of industries and charity works.
Appointed a Foundation Director of Winchester in 2010 and looks forward to continued growth in supporting Education Assistance of Regional Students at a disadvantage to those in cities.
Together with his family, he operates a Beef Cattle Stud, Genetics Supply and Farming operations. He oversees the distribution of charity needs through a Church Foundation to those in need in various overseas countries on a voluntary basis.
Richard Hughes
Director
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Richard joined the Winchester Foundation Board in October 2021 and is our newest member. Richard has extensive experience in the local and overseas beef cattle industry, and together with his family currently operates cattle properties in Central Queensland.
Richard is on the board of Mort & Co, Australia’s largest feed lotting company.
John Smith
Director
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John owned and operated Tropicproof, a motor vehicle rust protection business for many years. However, since the Winchester Foundation was established by his sister, Beryl Neilsen, he now directs his efforts to continue the Foundation’s goals in supporting the education of rural and regional children.
Nicholas Flor
Director, B.Bus
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After completing a Business degree in the early nineties, Nick worked at Flor Hanly & Assoc Accountants for 8 years before venturing into the world of HR. Starting as a Business Development Manager for a recruitment and consulting firm, he worked as a branch manager and national manager for a division before launching his own business in pioneering to take mine site inductions from site and delivering them in town. He then introduced the mining industry to online inductions and dealt with over 90% of the coal mining companies in the Bowen Basin and beyond with induction systems and consulted on other projects. He expanded online inductions into the sugar industry and multiple grazing operations. His HR skills are now employed by a highwall mining company to assist with recruitment and implementing business systems. Nick has volunteered and held committee positions in several organisations in the Mackay district, and has volunteered within the Winchester Foundation since its inception.
Judy Harris
Foundation Manager
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With many years’ experience as an Accounting Assistant/Client Relationship Manager, Judy is responsible for the financial, administrative and secretarial operations within the Foundation. Judy has been with the Foundation since its initial setup in 2011.
Hayley Jones
Executive Assistant
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Coming Soon
Brendan Brieffies
Winchester Associate, BVSc
Brittany Vella
Winchester Associate, BspPath (Hons)
Charles Williams
Winchester Associate, Grazier
Our Team Behind the Scenes
Ruth Bethel
Volunteer
Maggie Formosa
Volunteer
Leanne Fordyce
Volunteer
Kate Formosa
Volunteer
Apply for a scholarship
The Winchester Scholarships are open to Primary through to Tertiary students who live in rural and regional areas. These scholarships assist with the costs of accessing suitable education.
For more information on applying for a scholarship or making a donation, please send us an email. We’d love to hear from you!